Glenn Beck Sued for Defamation for Labeling Saudi Student as Boston Bombing “Money Man”

Good
Wingnuts • Views: 19,110

Almost immediately after the Boston Marathon bombings, Glenn Beck fixated on a 20-year old Saudi Arabian student, Abdulrahman Alharbi, who was actually injured in the attacks but was briefly questioned by police. Beck went absolutely ballistic, calling the student a “proven terrorist” and the “money man” behind the bombings.

The radio host urged the U.S. government to release information on Alharbi or Beck would “expose” him. “Let me send this message very clear,” said Beck, who left Fox News in 2011. “We know who this Saudi national is. … We know who this man is and, listen to me carefully, we know he is a very bad, bad, bad man.”

Beck continued days later: “While the media continues to look at what the causes were [behind] these two guys, there are, at this hour, three people involved,” he said, alleging the U.S. government had “tagged” Alharbi as a “proven terrorist.”

The broadcaster eventually called Alharbi an al Qaeda “control agent” and the “money man” behind the attacks. “You know who the Saudi is?” Beck asked. “He’s the money man. He’s the guy who paid for it.”

“Is this speculation or are you reporting something?” a co-host asked.

Beck ignored the question. “He’s the money man.”

And this student, who had nothing whatsoever to do with the attacks, is now suing Beck for defamation.

“Alharbi, like many others, was questioned by federal authorities investigating the events of that day,” says the lawsuit. “…The authorities quickly concluded that Mr. Alharbi, other than being injured in the attacks, had no involvement.

“Beck repeatedly and falsely identified Mr. Alharbi as an active participant, repeatedly questioned the motives of federal officials in failing to pursue or detain Alharbi and repeatedly and falsely accused Mr. Alharbi of being a criminal who had funded the attacks,” the lawsuit says.

Lest we forget, Glenn Beck was far from the only right wing figure who jumped to ridiculously bigoted conclusions about Mr. Alharbi; hate group leaders Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer both immediately labeled him a “jihadi,” based on absolutely no evidence. And the world-renowned Dumbest Man on the Internet, Jim Hoft, actually hunted down photographs of Alharbi and plastered them all over his blog.

And those are just three of the well-known bloggers who defamed Mr. Alharbi for no reason at all. Glenn Beck is the most visible face of wingnut bigotry, but he is not the only hater who incites and participates in these virtual lynch mobs — not by a long shot.

Jump to bottom

129 comments
1 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 1, 2014 11:56:39am

He was questioned by police because he was a WITNESS. You know, somebody who was standing around where the crime occurred?

Detectives interview witnesses because it’s part of their crime solving procedure.

I mean srsly did none of these people ever read a mystery or watch CSI?

2 FemNaziBitch  Apr 1, 2014 11:56:57am

Fu—ing PayPal!

3 Sionainn  Apr 1, 2014 12:00:16pm

I hope this guy gets a pile of money.

4 Charles Johnson  Apr 1, 2014 12:00:16pm

This is a pretty clear case of defamation — Beck didn’t even try to use words like “alleged,” he went all in and stated the guy was a terrorist, outright. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Beck settle out of court.

Maybe this will be a wake up call for the rest of these fucking morons.

5 S'latch  Apr 1, 2014 12:00:57pm

It looks like Glenn Beck is the money man now.

6 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Apr 1, 2014 12:01:34pm

This will be spun as a fearless American journalist being silenced by creeping Shariah for daring to speak his mind.

7 dog philosopher  Apr 1, 2014 12:01:34pm

musta been a slow day for making up vile shit out of wholecloth for the sake of filling up air time

8 Kragar  Apr 1, 2014 12:02:10pm

re: #1 Pie-onist Overlord

He was questioned by police because he was a WITNESS. You know, somebody who was standing around where the crime occurred?

Detectives interview witnesses because it’s part of their crime solving procedure.

I mean srsly did none of these people ever read a mystery or watch CSI?

They know exactly what happened without needing things like facts or evidence.

9 Bulworth  Apr 1, 2014 12:02:11pm

Can someone please think of the real victims here—Beck, Spencer, ect.

////

10 klys  Apr 1, 2014 12:02:12pm

re: #6 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

This will be spun as a fearless American journalist being silenced by creeping Shariah for daring to speak his mind.

HOW DARE YOU PUNISH HIM FOR HIS SPEECH.

//////

11 Dark_Falcon  Apr 1, 2014 12:02:12pm

re: #1 Pie-onist Overlord

He was questioned by police because he was a WITNESS. You know, somebody who was standing around where the crime occurred?

Detectives interview witnesses because it’s part of their crime solving procedure.

I mean srsly did none of these people ever read a mystery or watch CSI?

They didn’t care. They wanted to make sensational charges that would send their audiences into a frenzy of fear and anger in order to gain attention and and money.

A lawsuit for defamation or slander is the perfect way to hit Glenn Beck, assuming it is allowed to proceed.

12 Kragar  Apr 1, 2014 12:02:54pm

re: #10 klys

HOW DARE YOU PUNISH HIM FOR HIS SPEECH.

//////

CENSORSHIP!

13 Amory Blaine  Apr 1, 2014 12:04:31pm

ThinkGeek and their annual April 1st product.

Mr. Beard(r) Beard Machine

Youtube Video

This was my favorite

PC EZ-Bake Oven

14 klys  Apr 1, 2014 12:05:55pm

re: #12 Kragar

CENSORSHIP!

IF HE SETTLES IT REPRESENTS CAVING TO THE OUTRAGE OUT OF A DESIRE TO KEEP HIS JOB.

/////////////

15 Amory Blaine  Apr 1, 2014 12:07:52pm
16 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 1, 2014 12:09:23pm
17 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 12:09:35pm

re: #15 Amory Blaine

Rosetta Stone(r) - Learn to Speak Klingon

[Embedded content]

Yeah, that’ll impress the ladies!
//

18 Kragar  Apr 1, 2014 12:09:37pm

re: #14 klys

IF HE SETTLES IT REPRESENTS CAVING TO THE OUTRAGE OUT OF A DESIRE TO KEEP HIS JOB.

/////////////

First they say its wrong to call the President a Nazi, then they sue you for naming innocent bystanders terrorists.

Tyranny.

19 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 12:11:24pm

re: #16 Pie-onist Overlord

[Embedded content]

So now they’ll fall back on insulting her looks and calling her Moochelle. Then, after a week or so, they’ll go with the ‘No pictures of Moochelle like this! NONE!’ nonsense, because of selective memory and confirmation bias.

20 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 1, 2014 12:12:16pm

re: #19 GeneJockey

So now they’ll fall back on insulting her looks and calling her Moochelle. Then, after a week or so, they’ll go with the ‘No pictures of Moochelle like this! NONE!’ nonsense, because of selective memory and confirmation bias.

They’ll say it’s Photoshopped.

21 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 12:12:52pm

re: #18 Kragar

First they say its wrong to call the President a Nazi, then they sue you for naming innocent bystanders terrorists.

Tyranny.

You know who ELSE said it was wrong to call the President a Nazi?

Well, obviously not Hitler. But still!!!!

22 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 1, 2014 12:13:23pm

WTFITS
This is just fucked up.

23 NJDhockeyfan  Apr 1, 2014 12:13:45pm

re: #15 Amory Blaine

Rosetta Stone(r) - Learn to Speak Klingon

[Embedded content]

Was that written by this guy?

Local dad spoke only Klingon to child for three years

24 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 12:14:39pm

re: #22 Pie-onist Overlord

WTFITS
This is just fucked up.

[Embedded content]

Maybe I’ve seen too many of those ‘Stick Figure Family’ stickers, but I laughed.

25 Kragar  Apr 1, 2014 12:16:15pm

You can never beat the classics

Klingon Speakers Now Outnumber Navajo Speakers

26 NJDhockeyfan  Apr 1, 2014 12:16:56pm

My wife was looking up a phone number for the children’s clinic earlier and saw this…

27 Dark_Falcon  Apr 1, 2014 12:17:08pm

Expected Glenn Beck response: “Now we see the censorship inherent in Sharia! Oh, come and see the censorship inherent in Sharia!!1 HELP, HELP I’M BEING REPRESSED!!!11”

28 Amory Blaine  Apr 1, 2014 12:17:15pm

I’ve never seen such hatred towards a First Lady. It seriously exposes people as classless fucks.

29 Dark_Falcon  Apr 1, 2014 12:18:24pm

re: #27 Dark_Falcon

Expected Glenn Beck response: “Now we see the censorship inherent in Sharia! Oh, come and see the censorship inherent in Sharia!!1 HELP, HELP I’M BEING REPRESSED!!!11”

Youtube Video

30 GunstarGreen  Apr 1, 2014 12:19:03pm

re: #28 Amory Blaine

I’ve never seen such hatred towards a First Lady. It seriously exposes people as classless fucks.

That would be because we’ve never had a First Lady that was guilty of FLOTUSing While Black before.

We swear our opposition to President Obama is not rooted in racism. Now here, have some memes that are entirely about comparing his wife to primates.

31 aagcobb  Apr 1, 2014 12:19:29pm

Lets see, this bystander isn’t a public figure, so this is just a straight defamation case. Is there anything worse you could call a person than a terrorist? What should the price be for recklessly and maliciously putting a target on a young man’s back? Let’s start at say, $100 million.

32 Amory Blaine  Apr 1, 2014 12:19:38pm

re: #26 NJDhockeyfan

You can find perfectly good ones in the clearance bin!

//

33 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 12:20:15pm

re: #31 aagcobb

Lets see, this bystander isn’t a public figure, so this is just a straight defamation case. Is there anything worse you could call a person than a terrorist? What should the price be for recklessly and maliciously putting a target on a young man’s back? Let’s start at say, $100 million.

Of course he’s a public figure! Glenn Beck’s been talking about him on the radio!

34 NJDhockeyfan  Apr 1, 2014 12:21:05pm

re: #32 Amory Blaine

You can find perfectly good ones in the clearance bin!

//

I told my wife to see how much ours are worth.

35 Dark_Falcon  Apr 1, 2014 12:21:06pm

re: #22 Pie-onist Overlord

WTFITS
This is just fucked up.

[Embedded content]

36 makeitstop  Apr 1, 2014 12:21:06pm

re: #31 aagcobb

Lets see, this bystander isn’t a public figure, so this is just a straight defamation case. Is there anything worse you could call a person than a terrorist? What should the price be for recklessly and maliciously putting a target on a young man’s back? Let’s start at say, $100 million.

He should bankrupt that smarmy mofo. Beck deserves nothing less.

Give him something to cry about, as my dear mother used to say.

37 Feline Fearless Leader  Apr 1, 2014 12:22:29pm

re: #34 NJDhockeyfan

I told my wife to see how much ours are worth.

Once they’re delivered they lose at least 30% of their value, if not more.
//

38 Kragar  Apr 1, 2014 12:22:50pm

Telling non-believer they’re going to burn in hell is just Evangelicals exercising their religious beliefs and we need to just accept that.

But when you tell them they’ll be sodomized by the Lord of the Pit for being full of shit, they get offended.

Where is the respect?

39 Bulworth  Apr 1, 2014 12:23:01pm

re: #28 Amory Blaine

They’re just patriotic Americans worried about big government and too much spending and death panels……

////

40 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 12:23:06pm

About time for some (other) Right Wing con man to set up a Glenn Beck Legal Defense Fund, eh?

42 lawhawk  Apr 1, 2014 12:23:33pm

If only….

43 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 12:24:02pm

re: #37 Feline Fearless Leader

Once they’re delivered they lose at least 30% of their value, if not more.
//

That explains the Right’s lack of interest in post-natal children.

44 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 1, 2014 12:24:21pm

re: #24 GeneJockey

Maybe I’ve seen too many of those ‘Stick Figure Family’ stickers, but I laughed.

I think the “stick figure family stickers” are lame but fantasizing about shooting figures that represent babies and children is just fucked up.

45 Kragar  Apr 1, 2014 12:24:57pm

re: #41 Killgore Trout

I have no problem with releasing Pollard, with the stipulation that the plane doesn’t drop below 15,000 feet and no chute is provided.

46 makeitstop  Apr 1, 2014 12:25:16pm
47 klys  Apr 1, 2014 12:25:39pm

re: #24 GeneJockey

Maybe I’ve seen too many of those ‘Stick Figure Family’ stickers, but I laughed.

I want the Star Wars version.

Except it’s just me and my husband, unless I include the cats.

48 lawhawk  Apr 1, 2014 12:25:49pm

re: #44 Pie-onist Overlord

I think the “stick figure family stickers” are lame but fantasizing about shooting figures that represent babies and children is just fucked up.

What are the odds the same person claims to be pro-life?

Odds that the person wouldn’t have any qualms shooting an abortion provider?

49 Amory Blaine  Apr 1, 2014 12:26:40pm

I hurled many invectives against GW and it would have never occurred to me to start in on Laura. Some of us have serious issues with Scott Walker but you don’t hear or see anyone around talking shit about his wife.

50 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 12:26:43pm

Mine would have to include a longhaired one wearing black and flipping the viewer off.

51 lawhawk  Apr 1, 2014 12:26:53pm

re: #46 makeitstop

Umm.. how are we defining warm? It’s 56 in NYC, and pushing 60 in the burbs. I’ll take it.

52 Feline Fearless Leader  Apr 1, 2014 12:27:10pm

re: #43 GeneJockey

That explains the Right’s lack of interest in post-natal children.

Or is it the lack of interest that explains the loss in value?

53 EPR-radar  Apr 1, 2014 12:27:26pm

We’ll get to see if Beck is crazy or not.

If Beck has a few vestiges of sanity left, he settles this out of court.

If Beck is completely insane, he let this get to a jury by fighting the charges in court.

54 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 1, 2014 12:29:05pm

Wingnuts also have this fantasy that you can identify “Libturds” by the bumper stickers on their car.

I have never put a bumper sticker on my vehicle.

Maybe I will get a Detroit Tigers decal.

55 NJDhockeyfan  Apr 1, 2014 12:29:41pm
56 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 1, 2014 12:29:44pm
57 Kragar  Apr 1, 2014 12:30:17pm
58 lawhawk  Apr 1, 2014 12:30:24pm

re: #54 Pie-onist Overlord

Wingnuts also have this fantasy that you can identify “Libturds” by the bumper stickers on their car.

I have never put a bumper sticker on my vehicle.

Maybe I will get a Detroit Tigers decal.

complex.com

Especially this one.

59 Kragar  Apr 1, 2014 12:30:48pm

re: #54 Pie-onist Overlord

Wingnuts also have this fantasy that you can identify “Libturds” by the bumper stickers on their car.

I have never put a bumper sticker on my vehicle.

Maybe I will get a Detroit Tigers decal.

I skip bumperstickers precisely because of shit like that.

60 Dark_Falcon  Apr 1, 2014 12:31:27pm

re: #53 EPR-radar

We’ll get to see if Beck is crazy or not.

If Beck has a few vestiges of sanity left, he settles this out of court.

If Beck is completely insane, he let this get to a jury by fighting the charges in court.

It may not be solely his choice to make. If he has liability insurance, his insurer may not want to run the risk of punitive damages in the event of a jury verdict that goes against Beck.

61 Feline Fearless Leader  Apr 1, 2014 12:31:57pm

re: #54 Pie-onist Overlord

Wingnuts also have this fantasy that you can identify “Libturds” by the bumper stickers on their car.

I have never put a bumper sticker on my vehicle.

Maybe I will get a Detroit Tigers decal.

Only bumper sticker I ever had was a “Team Banzai” sticker on my ‘89 Mazda.

Current Forester does have a FSM symbol on it though. :)

62 Political Atheist  Apr 1, 2014 12:32:25pm

re: #16 Pie-onist Overlord

[Embedded content]

Now there maybe is who should be doing some anti defamation work. Heh, how cool would it be if the Obamas got after Beck or Rush for some of the lies?

63 William Barnett-Lewis  Apr 1, 2014 12:33:09pm

re: #24 GeneJockey

Maybe I’ve seen too many of those ‘Stick Figure Family’ stickers, but I laughed.

I gotta admit that I did as well…

64 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 12:33:19pm

re: #44 Pie-onist Overlord

I think the “stick figure family stickers” are lame but fantasizing about shooting figures that represent babies and children is just fucked up.

To be fair, the fantasy bullets are clearly impacting BEHIND the running stick figure family, so it’s not fantasizing about shooting them, it’s fantasizing about running them off the window with harrassing fire.

But what people find funny is idiosyncratic.

65 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 12:33:52pm

re: #52 Feline Fearless Leader

Or is it the lack of interest that explains the loss in value?

Which came first, the chicken parts? Or the egg salad?

66 aagcobb  Apr 1, 2014 12:33:58pm

re: #38 Kragar

[Embedded content]

Telling non-believer they’re going to burn in hell is just Evangelicals exercising their religious beliefs and we need to just accept that.

But when you tell them they’ll be sodomized by the Lord of the Pit for being full of shit, they get offended.

Where is the respect?

Its basic fundy theology that what we think of as “good works” are as filthy rags to God, and that everyone deserves eternal damnation. Its is only Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf that can spare us from the eternal punishment we richly deserve.

67 EPR-radar  Apr 1, 2014 12:33:59pm

re: #60 Dark_Falcon

It may not be solely his choice to make. If he has liability insurance, his insurer may not want to run the risk of punitive damages in the event of a jury verdict that goes against Beck.

Fair point. If an insurance company ends up eating this judgement, I’d like to see Beck denied all liability coverage going forward, or offered rates that are 10x to 100x the normal rates.

68 Aqua Obama  Apr 1, 2014 12:35:02pm
69 klys  Apr 1, 2014 12:35:18pm

re: #67 EPR-radar

Fair point. If an insurance company ends up eating this judgement, I’d like to see Beck denied all liability coverage going forward, or offered rates that are 10x to 100x the normal rates.

If there is an insurance company involved, I’d hope they were already charging him 100x the normal rate, given that it’s not exactly surprising that this has happened.

70 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 12:36:19pm

re: #59 Kragar

I skip bumperstickers precisely because of shit like that.

I skip bumperstickers because they fade, peel, and leave crud-covered adhesive patches behind when you peel them off.

71 Stanley Sea  Apr 1, 2014 12:36:27pm

re: #4 Charles Johnson

This is a pretty clear case of defamation — Beck didn’t even try to use words like “alleged,” he went all in and stated the guy was a terrorist, outright. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Beck settle out of court.

Maybe this will be a wake up call for the rest of these fucking morons.

Beck is Father Coughlin redux. Actually really good that he does not have the Fox News blow horn anymore,

72 EPR-radar  Apr 1, 2014 12:36:36pm

re: #66 aagcobb

Its basic fundy theology that what we think of as “good works” are as filthy rags to God, and that everyone deserves eternal damnation. Its is only Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf that can spare us from the eternal punishment we richly deserve.

“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” is essential reading for understanding the American Taliban.

en.wikisource.org

73 Dark_Falcon  Apr 1, 2014 12:37:50pm

re: #55 NJDhockeyfan

[Embedded content]

No surprise, since US policy on that matter has been consistent since the Clinton Presidency: Full Palestinian membership in UN institutions must wait for formal Palestinian statehood. If the Palestinians try to join such institutions, then they may face diplomatic or aid consequences. Any UN agency that admits “Palestine” as a full voting member prior to the Palestinians actually having a state will lose all US funding.

Note: The cut-off of US funds to any UN org that lets the Palestinians join as a voting member prior to their actually signing a final status treaty with Israel is statutory, passed into law by a 1997 Act of Congress.

74 Kragar  Apr 1, 2014 12:38:18pm

re: #66 aagcobb

Its basic fundy theology that what we think of as “good works” are as filthy rags to God, and that everyone deserves eternal damnation. Its is only Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf that can spare us from the eternal punishment we richly deserve.

Saw this earlier

“Jesus died for your sins. Do you really want him to have died for nothing?”

75 Charles Johnson  Apr 1, 2014 12:39:09pm

Cheeteau by Chester

Youtube Video

76 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 12:40:26pm

re: #66 aagcobb

Its basic fundy theology that what we think of as “good works” are as filthy rags to God, and that everyone deserves eternal damnation. Its is only Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf that can spare us from the eternal punishment we richly deserve.

I know. Omniscient, omnipotent, omnibenevolent God created all these vile creatures who by their very existence deserve nothing better than to be piled up and torched for all eternity, unless they decide to like him.

I find that incredibly creepy.

77 Bulworth  Apr 1, 2014 12:40:58pm

re: #57 Kragar

I thought they had already decided Confirmed FACT that Obama was teh gay and a secret muslim, too. Now they’re not sure. It’s almost enough to make me wonder whether these are serious people or not.

78 Ace-o-aces  Apr 1, 2014 12:42:08pm
“Let me send this message very clear,” said Beck, who left Fox News in 2011. “We know who this Saudi national is. … We know who this man is and, listen to me carefully, we know he is a very bad, bad, bad man.”

Translation: “I have no idea who this guy is, but he has dark skin and a foriegn name, so I can use him to scare old white people into buying overpriced gold coins”.

79 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 12:43:44pm

re: #57 Kragar

[Embedded content]

Sexual Anarchy, you say? Sounds like a good name for a band!

80 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 12:45:10pm

re: #78 Ace-o-aces

Translation: “I have no idea who this guy is, but he has dark skin and a foriegn name, so I can use him to scare old white people into buying overpriced gold coins”.

If he’s NOT guilty, then tell me what he was doing being swarthy and foreign, and a Muslim, to boot?!?

81 calochortus  Apr 1, 2014 12:46:56pm

re: #4 Charles Johnson

This is a pretty clear case of defamation — Beck didn’t even try to use words like “alleged,” he went all in and stated the guy was a terrorist, outright. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Beck settle out of court.

Maybe this will be a wake up call for the rest of these fucking morons.

Don’t worry, Freepers are on this and are sure that this evil foreigner has bitten off more than he can chew. His evilness will be revealed to all and he won’t get a penny. You can’t defame his character because truth is a defense against libel.

Or, if you prefer: It’s an evil liberal plot to take out that great font of wisdom Glenn Beck so what can we expect? If only the sheeple would learn the truth from bigotsthem.

82 sagehen  Apr 1, 2014 12:47:10pm

re: #13 Amory Blaine

ThinkGeek and their annual April 1st product.

Mr. Beard(r) Beard Machine

[Embedded content]

This was my favorite

PC EZ-Bake Oven

[Embedded image]

I still love the classics:

(from the BBC, 1957)

Youtube Video

83 kirkspencer  Apr 1, 2014 12:47:24pm

It’s Massachusetts, so it’s defamation per se - no damages have to be proven. All that’s required is to prove Beck said it.

Beck’s sole remaining defense is ‘truth’, and even there he’s got problems. Now in some states he could get away with ‘I believed it to be true’ as long as he can demonstrate reasonable diligence to ensure it was true before he said it. But in Massachusetts they had a case whereby even truth was insufficient if malice - actual or probable - was demonstrated.

Beck is a professional newscaster (don’t laugh) and as such is expected to know:
due diligence;
phrasing (use of the word ‘alleged’);
consequence of inflammatory language.

He’s going to pay a LOT for this. If he’s smart and a little lucky it’ll just be for the out of court settlement.

84 sagehen  Apr 1, 2014 12:49:33pm

re: #28 Amory Blaine

I’ve never seen such hatred towards a First Lady. It seriously exposes people as classless fucks.

aw, c’mon… they never accused her of shooting anybody in the head….

86 William Barnett-Lewis  Apr 1, 2014 12:51:03pm

re: #13 Amory Blaine

This was my favorite

PC EZ-Bake Oven

[Embedded image]

I want one. It would be the one thing that would make my WIndows XP box useful…

87 NJDhockeyfan  Apr 1, 2014 12:51:24pm
88 Dark_Falcon  Apr 1, 2014 12:51:42pm

re: #83 kirkspencer

It’s Massachusetts, so it’s defamation per se - no damages have to be proven. All that’s required is to prove Beck said it.

Beck’s sole remaining defense is ‘truth’, and even there he’s got problems. Now in some states he could get away with ‘I believed it to be true’ as long as he can demonstrate reasonable diligence to ensure it was true before he said it. But in Massachusetts they had a case whereby even truth was insufficient if malice - actual or probable - was demonstrated.

Beck is a professional newscaster (don’t laugh) and as such is expected to know:
due diligence;
phrasing (use of the word ‘alleged’);
consequence of inflammatory language.

He’s going to pay a LOT for this. If he’s smart and a little lucky it’ll just be for the out of court settlement.

A question might be: Were Beck’s words malicious or could a lawyer argue they simply resulted from an excess of zeal in the nation’s defense?

89 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 12:51:54pm

re: #86 William Barnett-Lewis

I want one. It would be the one thing that would make my WIndows XP box useful…

I could probably do that with the heat exhaust from my laptop.

90 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 12:52:25pm

re: #87 NJDhockeyfan

[Embedded content]

Now that’s what you call ironic.

91 lawhawk  Apr 1, 2014 12:53:22pm

re: #83 kirkspencer

Here’s the filing:

Scribd Document

He’s further suing the radio networks that carried Beck when he made those statements (further deep pockets).

Counts are defamation and defamation with malace.

92 EPR-radar  Apr 1, 2014 12:53:51pm

re: #88 Dark_Falcon

A question might be: Were Beck’s words malicious or could a lawyer argue they simply resulted from an excess of zeal in the nation’s defense?

All arguments are possible. However, any lawyer that would want to bring that argument to a properly selected jury (i.e., a jury haven no more than its fair share of wingnuts) would need to have his/her head examined.

93 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 12:55:22pm

re: #92 EPR-radar

All arguments are possible. However, any lawyer that would want to bring that argument to a properly selected jury (i.e., a jury haven no more than its fair share of wingnuts) would need to have his/her head examined.

I foresee a settlement. It’s one thing to go after politicians, but to attack a private individual like that?

94 Feline Fearless Leader  Apr 1, 2014 12:55:35pm

re: #89 GeneJockey

I could probably do that with the heat exhaust from my laptop.

The heat exhaust from my laptop is known as “Feline Overlord Warmer” in my apartment.

95 Bulworth  Apr 1, 2014 12:55:55pm

re: #87 NJDhockeyfan

Still about the plane?

96 Feline Fearless Leader  Apr 1, 2014 12:56:33pm

re: #95 Bulworth

Still about the plane?

Yes. CNN has apparently noticed that the oceans currently have a lot of junk floating about in them.

97 dog philosopher  Apr 1, 2014 12:57:08pm

re: #94 Feline Fearless Leader

The heat exhaust from my laptop is known as “Feline Overlord Warmer” in my apartment.

helpful hint:

if you are lying in bed watching movies on your laptop, let your feet stick out from under the covers to compensate for how hot your chest or stomach is getting

98 Charles Johnson  Apr 1, 2014 12:58:15pm
99 dog philosopher  Apr 1, 2014 12:58:49pm

re: #96 Feline Fearless Leader

Yes. CNN has apparently noticed that the oceans currently have a lot of junk floating about in them.

we don’t know much about the ‘humans’ that once lived on this planet except that they left the place a mess

100 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 12:58:54pm

re: #94 Feline Fearless Leader

The heat exhaust from my laptop is known as “Feline Overlord Warmer” in my apartment.

Our last feline overlord left us 14 years ago. But I know what you mean. It’s like it can never be too warm for a cat. My brother used to live in a house heated by a big woodstove, and the cats would lie so close to it that their fur would get so hot you could barely touch it.

101 Charles Johnson  Apr 1, 2014 12:59:03pm

That tweet refers to this:

102 makeitstop  Apr 1, 2014 12:59:11pm

re: #51 lawhawk

Umm.. how are we defining warm? It’s 56 in NYC, and pushing 60 in the burbs. I’ll take it.

Barely above 50 here on LI, so… NO. :)

103 Feline Fearless Leader  Apr 1, 2014 1:00:43pm

re: #97 dog philosopher

helpful hint:

if you are lying in bed watching movies on your laptop, let your feet stick out from under the covers to compensate for how hot your chest or stomach is getting

Feet on the bed that are insufficiently armored (e.g. more than a bed sheet) are subject to attack by malicious felines.

104 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 1:01:59pm

re: #103 Feline Fearless Leader

Feet on the bed that are insufficiently armored (e.g. more than a bed sheet) are subject to attack by malicious felines.

In our house they get obsessively licked by the senile Eskie. If feet are unavalable, she’ll settle for the leather ottoman, or your pillow.

105 lawhawk  Apr 1, 2014 1:02:09pm

re: #88 Dark_Falcon

His statements have nothing to do with the nation’s defense, but baseless statements that are contra to facts, even as he knew or should have known of them.

Witness ≠ suspect.

That’s CrimPro 101. It’s true that a witness could later turn out to be a suspect, but that wasn’t the case here. Alharbi was never a suspect, because he wasn’t involved, and the police came to focus on the Tsarnaevs instead based on the video and other evidence collected at the scene.

Beck was making baseless assertion after baseless assertion, with no evidence to back up anything he said in respect to Alharbi.

106 A Mom Anon  Apr 1, 2014 1:02:18pm

The family portrayed on the back of my car is a monster family. Dad is Frankenstein, Mom is a Mummy, the Girl child is a vampire holding a baby doll with no head, the Boy child is a Werewolf. The Dog has three heads and the Cat is a Cyclops with two horns. I put the stickers on sheet magnet material so they don’t leave goop on the paint job. I’ve never seen anyone else around with the same thing.

I’m sick of seeing the Calvin ones of him peeing on everything from some generic “terrorist” to liberals to the Obama symbol, to a Dem Donkey, etc. I swear nearly every yahoo with a truck down here has one of those stupid things.

107 Kragar  Apr 1, 2014 1:02:35pm

New Salamanders. Oooooh!

108 Timothy Watson  Apr 1, 2014 1:03:42pm

re: #41 Killgore Trout

The Arguments For And Against Releasing Jonathan Pollard

The arguments for that Pollard should have been hanged:

We… feel obligated to go on record with the facts regarding Pollard in order to dispel the myths that have arisen from this clever public relations campaign… aimed at transforming Pollard from greedy, arrogant betrayer of the American national trust into Pollard, committed Israeli patriot.

Pollard pleaded guilty and therefore never was publicly tried. Thus, the American people never came to know that he offered classified information to three other countries before working for the Israelis and that he offered his services to a fourth country while he was spying for Israel. They also never came to understand that he was being highly paid for his services….

Pollard and his apologists argue he turned over to the Israelis information they were being denied that was critical to their security. The fact is, however, Pollard had no way of knowing what the Israeli government was already receiving by way of official intelligence exchange agreements…. Some of the data he compromised had nothing to do with Israeli security or even with the Middle East. He betrayed worldwide intelligence data, including sources and methods developed at significant cost to the U.S. taxpayer. As a result of his perfidy, some of those sources are lost forever

… Another claim Pollard made is that the U.S. government reneged on its bargain not to seek the life sentence. What is not heard is that Pollard’s part of the bargain was to cooperate fully in an assessment of the damage he had done and to refrain from talking to the press prior to the completion of his sentencing. He blatantly and contemptuously failed to live up to either part of the plea agreement…. It was this coupled with the magnitude and consequences of his criminal actions that resulted in the judge imposing a life sentence…. The appellate court subsequently upheld the life sentence.

If, as Pollard and his supporters claim, he has “suffered enough” for his crimes, he is free to apply for parole as the American judicial system provides. In his arrogance, he has refused to do so, but insists on being granted clemency or a pardon.

Directors of Naval Intelligence William Studeman, Sumner Shapiro, John L. Butts, and Thomas Brooks

109 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Apr 1, 2014 1:05:14pm

re: #88 Dark_Falcon

A question might be: Were Beck’s words malicious or could a lawyer argue they simply resulted from an excess of zeal in the nation’s defense?

You just nailed his defense strategy…the Newt Gingrich Passion for America gambit.

110 Charles Johnson  Apr 1, 2014 1:06:29pm

re: #105 lawhawk

I’m sure the attorneys for Alharbi wouldn’t have filed if they didn’t think they had a strong chance of coming out with a lot of money. And the thing is, Beck has been in media for a lot of years. I’m sure he knows the little weasel phrases he could use to avoid exposing himself to this kind of thing, but he just can’t help himself. The mark of a true hater.

I’d be really surprised if Beck doesn’t have to shell out some dough this time.

111 Feline Fearless Leader  Apr 1, 2014 1:06:57pm

re: #100 GeneJockey

Our last feline overlord left us 14 years ago. But I know what you mean. It’s like it can never be too warm for a cat. My brother used to live in a house heated by a big woodstove, and the cats would lie so close to it that their fur would get so hot you could barely touch it.

There is almost no limit for getting radiant heat.

I also figured out that this is one reason the one cat hangs out on the TV stand (sorta) watching the TV. Some interesting motion now and then*, generated heat, and a good position to keep an eye on me and activity near the doorway such as the other cat creeping in.

* - She reacts to basketball, cowboy westerns, birds, and for some reason David Bowie.

112 calochortus  Apr 1, 2014 1:07:26pm

re: #110 Charles Johnson

I’d be really surprised if Beck doesn’t have to shell out some dough this time.

We can only hope.

113 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Apr 1, 2014 1:08:32pm

re: #110 Charles Johnson

I’d be really surprised if Beck doesn’t have to shell out some dough this time.

He will just go on to found a “Free Speech Defense League” PAC and raise tons of dough to cover his costs.

114 A Mom Anon  Apr 1, 2014 1:08:52pm

re: #112 calochortus

Oops, there goes his plans to build Beckistan, darn. I hope this kid leaves Beck with nothing but the clothes on his back.

115 EPR-radar  Apr 1, 2014 1:09:38pm

re: #113 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

He will just go on to found a “Free Speech Defense League” PAC and raise tons of dough to cover his costs.

Too true. More fleecing of the rubes. Beck will probably turn a profit, unless the judgement is extraordinarily large.

116 dog philosopher  Apr 1, 2014 1:10:04pm

re: #111 Feline Fearless Leader

and for some reason David Bowie.

it’s because he has a tail

117 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 1:10:07pm

re: #114 A Mom Anon

Oops, there goes his plans to build Beckistan, darn. I hope this kid leaves Beck with nothing but the clothes on his back.

Yes, for the love of all that’s holy, let him keep those!
///

118 Feline Fearless Leader  Apr 1, 2014 1:11:31pm

re: #115 EPR-radar

Too true. More fleecing of the rubes. Beck will probably turn a profit, unless the judgement is extraordinarily large.

I guess the positive for that is that it drains money that would otherwise probably go to other PACs that are potentially worse.

119 Dark_Falcon  Apr 1, 2014 1:14:05pm

re: #105 lawhawk

His statements have nothing to do with the nation’s defense, but baseless statements that are contra to facts, even as he knew or should have known of them.

Witness ≠ suspect.

That’s CrimPro 101. It’s true that a witness could later turn out to be a suspect, but that wasn’t the case here. Alharbi was never a suspect, because he wasn’t involved, and the police came to focus on the Tsarnaevs instead based on the video and other evidence collected at the scene.

Beck was making baseless assertion after baseless assertion, with no evidence to back up anything he said in respect to Alharbi.

I agree. I was mostly toying with how Beck might try to defend himself.

120 FemNaziBitch  Apr 1, 2014 1:14:46pm

bbl

121 Dark_Falcon  Apr 1, 2014 1:15:43pm

re: #114 A Mom Anon

Oops, there goes his plans to build Beckistan, darn. I hope this kid leaves Beck with nothing but the clothes on his back.

Nice to hope for, but I doubt it. Beck will be hurt by this, but I’d expect him to survive it.

122 FemNaziBitch  Apr 1, 2014 1:19:13pm

re: #70 GeneJockey

I skip bumperstickers because they fade, peel, and leave crud-covered adhesive patches behind when you peel them off.

ABumperMagnetOnlyStore

now, bbl

123 lawhawk  Apr 1, 2014 1:19:47pm

re: #110 Charles Johnson

I’m sure the attorneys for Alharbi wouldn’t have filed if they didn’t think they had a strong chance of coming out with a lot of money. And the thing is, Beck has been in media for a lot of years. I’m sure he knows the little weasel phrases he could use to avoid exposing himself to this kind of thing, but he just can’t help himself. The mark of a true hater.

I’d be really surprised if Beck doesn’t have to shell out some dough this time.

Coming out with a lot of money. I happen to agree and it’s interesting that Alharbi’s lawyers didn’t include a dollar amount in their claims for relief. They’re leaving it up to the court/jury to decide. In other words, the sky’s the limit.

That can actually work against any kind of settlement at this early stage since no one is working with hard figures.

I would expect this to settle in the low 7, upper 6 figure range, plus costs.

Then again, if this goes to trial and the jury finds malice, all bets are off and he could look at a huge verdict.

124 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 1:21:58pm

re: #123 lawhawk

Then again, if this goes to trial and the jury finds malice, all bets are off and he could look at a huge verdict.

Ooooo! I like the sound of that!

125 Justanotherhuman  Apr 1, 2014 1:26:18pm

It’s gotta be expensive running this and I’m still waiting for the bankruptcy notice. Whether this kid gets a huge settlement or GB goes belly up anyway, it’s a win-win for the airways and the country.

Glenn Beck Buys 72,000-Square-Foot Studios At Las Colinas, Is Apparently Here To Stay

blogs.dallasobserver.com

“Irving was a shithole before, as it is more of one now.”

126 sagehen  Apr 1, 2014 1:26:22pm

re: #110 Charles Johnson

I’m sure the attorneys for Alharbi wouldn’t have filed if they didn’t think they had a strong chance of coming out with a lot of money. And the thing is, Beck has been in media for a lot of years. I’m sure he knows the little weasel phrases he could use to avoid exposing himself to this kind of thing, but he just can’t help himself. The mark of a true hater.

I’d be really surprised if Beck doesn’t have to shell out some dough this time.

Let’s hope the punitive damages are enough to be really punitive.

(if Alharbi wants to avoid looking like he’s just a personal money-grubber, he can list a half-dozen charities to receive the bulk of the funds)

127 Sophist, D.D., DDS, DFH  Apr 1, 2014 1:34:52pm

re: #113 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

He will just go on to found a “Free Speech Defense League” PAC and raise tons of dough to cover his costs.

The sort of people that would donate to such a fund would probably have otherwise donated it to some awful, regressive PAC otherwise, so I’ll count it as a win.

128 RealityBasedSteve  Apr 1, 2014 1:43:51pm

re: #111 Feline Fearless Leader

There is almost no limit for getting radiant heat.

I also figured out that this is one reason the one cat hangs out on the TV stand (sorta) watching the TV. Some interesting motion now and then*, generated heat, and a good position to keep an eye on me and activity near the doorway such as the other cat creeping in.

* - She reacts to basketball, cowboy westerns, birds, and for some reason David Bowie.

My females favorite perch was on top of my router / wifi box. She would sit on it, tail curled around her feet and look very regal with a nice warm butt. When it failed, (probably due to an over abundance of cat butt hair inside it), I got a new one that sits on edge. Her Highness WAS NOT Impressed.

RBS

129 kirkspencer  Apr 1, 2014 6:28:43pm

re: #88 Dark_Falcon

A question might be: Were Beck’s words malicious or could a lawyer argue they simply resulted from an excess of zeal in the nation’s defense?

Dark, sorry for getting to this so late. The magic phrase is ‘defamation per se’. Several states - and more important to this case Massachusetts - have this standard. You can think of them as fighting words - they’re a close parallel.

Certain types of defamation are considered so bad that damages aren’t necessary and malice does not need to be proven. There are four groupings of which accusation of crime is one. Beck repeatedly called him a ‘proven terrorist’. Excessive zeal is not a defense.

(As an aside, the other three general categories for per se are sexual misconduct, adverse reflection on fitness to perform business or trade, and loathsome disease. Sometimes they can overlap: or example, accusing someone of having and passing around AIDS.)


This article has been archived.
Comments are closed.

Jump to top

Create a PageThis is the LGF Pages posting bookmarklet. To use it, drag this button to your browser's bookmark bar, and title it 'LGF Pages' (or whatever you like). Then browse to a site you want to post, select some text on the page to use for a quote, click the bookmarklet, and the Pages posting window will appear with the title, text, and any embedded video or audio files already filled in, ready to go.
Or... you can just click this button to open the Pages posting window right away.
Last updated: 2023-04-04 11:11 am PDT
LGF User's Guide RSS Feeds

Help support Little Green Footballs!

Subscribe now for ad-free access!Register and sign in to a free LGF account before subscribing, and your ad-free access will be automatically enabled.

Donate with
PayPal
Cash.app
Recent PagesClick to refresh
Detroit Local Powers First EV Charging Road in North America The road, about a mile from Local 58's hall, uses rubber-coated copper inductive-charging coils buried under the asphalt that transfer power to a receiver pad attached to a car's underbelly, much like how a phone can be charged wirelessly. ...
Backwoods Sleuth
3 days ago
Views: 191 • Comments: 1 • Rating: 4